Everything Middle East

The Middle East Region





Geography

Where is Mesopotamia?	The land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers called the "Fertile Crescent"
Why did people settle here?	When the rivers flooded, they left behind fertile soil called silt and irrigated the fields with river water The river valley was very fertile thus good for farming and a good place to start a civilization!
What were the disadvantages to the living in the fertile crescent?	Unpredictable flooding and periods of little or no rain No natural barriers for protection Limited natural resources
What solutions did the Sumerians develop for these problems?	Irrigation ditches were built to provide the fields with water and produce a surplus of crops For defense, city walls were built Goods were traded with other peoples to obtain raw materials

Sumer - the first civilization

A Ziggurat

• Sumerians formed city states - a city and its surrounding land that functioned much like an independent country would today
• In the center of all cities was a walled temple with a ziggurat in the middle
• Ziggurat - a place of worship that also served as a city hall
• City-states came under the rule of dynasties

Sumerian Culture

• The people of the fertile crescent were polytheistic, or believed in more than one god
• To keep the gods happy, the Sumerians built huge ziggurats and offered sacrifices
• Sumerian women had more rights than women in later civilizations
• The Sumerians created a system of writing called cuneiform which was used to keep records

The First Empire

• Sargon defeated the city-states of Sumer in about 2350 BCE
• He conquered both northern and southern Mesopotamia, thus forming the first empire
• Empire - brings together several previously independent peoples under the control of one ruler
• The Babylonian empire reached its peak during the reign of Hammurabi
• Hammurabi created a single uniform code of laws known as Hammurabi's code
• The code was engraved in stone and copies were placed all over the empire
• An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth

Major Achievements of the People of Mesopotamia

• Arithmetic and geometry were used to build city walls and buildings, plan irrigation systems, and survey flooded fields
• The Sumerians also developed a number system in base 60
• Architectural innovations included: arches, columns, ramps, and the pyramid shaped design of the ziggurat
• Cuneiform - the system of writing developed and used in Mesopotamia
• Sumerians invented the wheel, the sail and the plow
• They were the first people to use bronze
• First empire
• Hammurabi's code

Who were the Hittites?

• Hittites- a group of Indo-European speakers; occupied Anatolia (the area that is now turkey) in about 2000 B.C.
• Separate Hittite city-states united around 1650 B.C. to form empire- capital city of Hattusas.
• Dominated Southwest Asia for 450 years, including Babylon.
• Struggled with Egypt for control of northern Syria; then signed a peace treaty & pledged to help each other fight off future invaders.
• Indo-European language used to communicate with one another; adopted Akkadian (the language of the conquered Babylonians) for international use.
• Excellent technology: light and easy chariots, and iron weapons.
• Iron was easily available to the Hittites in the mountains of Anatolia.
• Despite military strength, the Hittite empire fell suddenly around 1190 B.C. when tribes attacked and burned Hattusas.
• ~*The Hittites were mainly known for their use of Iron in military technology (they had a superb military because of the skill of their iron workers)*~

Basic Facts

Who founded it?	Judaism was founded by Abraham
What made Judaism different from other religions of its time period?	Jews were monotheistic or believed in only one god
What is the holy book of Judaism?	The Hebrew Bible, including the Torah
Who are some important people in Jewish history?	Abraham, Moses, Saul, David, Solomon
Who leads Jewish prayer?	The Rabbi

Abraham and The Promised Land

• In the Torah, god chose Abraham to be the father of the Hebrew people
• Abraham lived in Ur but god commanded that he move his people to Canaan
• The promise between god and Abraham is called a covenant
• The Hebrews migrated to Egypt because of drought and threat of famine
• At first the Egyptians welcomed the Hebrews but later, they were forced into slavery
• Moses led the Hebrews out of slavery
• God made a new covenant with Moses - The 10 Commandments
• The Hebrews wandered 40 years in the desert and then arrived in Canaan
• Once in Canaan, they were divided by god into 12 tribes

The Kingdom of Israel

• Saul was the first of three kings
• King David succeeded Saul and was a very popular leader
• King David united the tribes, established Jerusalem as the capital and founded a dynasty
• David was succeeded by Solomon
• Solomon built a trading empire and beautified Jerusalem
• Built a great temple to glorify god and permanently house the ark of the covenant
• The building projects required high taxes and forced labor
• After Solomon's death the kingdom was divided in two: Israel in the north and Judah in the south
• Solomon's temple was destroyed and rebuilt many times during history

Introduction to Assyrian Empire	Began around 850 B.C. Ruled by kings, such as King Sennacherib Flat, exposed land- easy to be attacked from nearby mountain areas
Military Organization	Glorified military strength- soldiers well-equipped with iron dressings and metal and/or iron armor Advanced planning skills. ex; before attacks, dug beneath walls of enemy city to weaken them, and then attack from all different angles and directions
Expansion of Assyrian Empire	Between 850-650 B.C., kings of Assyria defeated Syria, Palestine, & Babylonia Assyrian kings controlled dependent provinces by choosing rulers by support- system of governmental management Military campaigns added to empire- if a conquered people refused to pay tax, their city was destroyed and its people were exiled
Assyrian Culture	King Sennacherib established capital at Nineveh along Tigris River Nineveh ruins held carved sculptures- two main artistic subjects: brutal military campaigns and the lion hunt King Ashurbanipal created one of ancient world's largest libraries- over 20,000 clay tablets from throughout Fertile Crescent Modern characteristics to library- collection organized by subject matter; cataloged
Decline of the Empire	Ashurbanipal's death led to fall of Nineveh 612 B.C. - army of Medes, Chaldeans, and others destroyed Nineveh- many rejoiced Chaldeans made Babylon their capital around 600 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar restored the city with famous hanging gardens, later listed as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world Nebuchadnezzar's empire fell quickly after his death as well

Rise of Persia

• Based empire on tolerance and diplomacy, and strong military backed up their policies.
• Indo-Europeans first migrated from Central Europe and southern Russia to Fertile Crescent around 1000 B.C. (modern day Iran)
• 550 B.C. - Persian king, Cyrus, began to conquer several neighboring kingdoms between 550-539 B.C., eventually controlling a span of 2,000 miles from Indus River (east) to Anatolia (west).
• Cyrus was extremely kind to conquered people- showed tolerant view of empire.
• allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem in 538 B.C. - Jews rebuilt their city and temple.
• Cyrus was killed in battle against nomadic intruders in 530 B.C. [Cyrus-->]
  

Persian Rule

• Cyrus's son, Cambyses, continued to expand empire by conquering Egypt.
• Didn't follow his father's example- scorned Egyptian religion.
• Cambyses ruled for only eight years, then died; widespread rebellions caused empire to become fragile.
• Cambyses's successor, Darius, was once the king's bodyguard- seized throne around 522 B.C.
• Established a well-organized and efficient administration.
• Led conquests to present-day Afghanistan, and river valleys of India- Empire extended over 2,500 miles.
• Darius's only failure was that of conquering Greece.
• He divided his empire into 20 provinces- people could practice their own religion, speak own language, and follow own laws- "nationalities"- Darius still ruled with absolute power.
• Installed a governor (satrap) in each province to rule locally, a military leader, and tax collector.
• Excellent road system allowed for quick communication- Royal Road- ran from Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia (total of 1,677 miles).
• Metal coins of a standard value became available through the whole empire, promoting trade.

Persian Legacy

• Persia was so fortunate while people of Fertile Crescent suffered war, conquest, famine, etc.
• Persian prophet, Zoroaster, taught that earth is a battleground where a struggle is fought between good and evil; at the end of time, Ahura Mazda (the only god in Zoroastrian religion) will judge everyone according on their fight for the good spirit in life.
• Zoroastrian religion eventually declined in the A.D. 600s.
• Persians brought political order to Southwest Asia, by preserving ideas from earlier cultures and civilizations.
• The powerful dynasty established by Cyrus lasted 200 years.
• In 334 B.C., Alexander the Great led an army into Anatolia to defeat Darius III of Persia, crushing them.
  
  
  

Who founded Christianity?	Jesus of Nazareth- born around 6 to 4 B.C.
What did Jesus teach?	He did good works; reportedly performed miracles teachings contained many ideas from Jewish tradition, such as monotheism & the Ten Commandments emphasized God's personal relationship with individuals
How did Christianity spread?	Jesus had 12 men who followed him, known as apostles, who later spread his works and teachings people became touched by Jesus's messages, especially the poor
What is the Holy book of Christianity?	The Bible (Old and New Testaments) originally, main source of his teachings were the Gospels

Christianity Spreads

Paul's Mission

Who was Paul?	One apostle who was originally an enemy of Christianity, but then had a vision of Jesus and from then on followed him and spread his teachings
What did Paul do?	He wrote influential letters, called Epistles, to groups of believers He stressed that Jesus was the son of God who died for people’s sins, and that Christianity should welcome all converts

Diaspora- dispersal of the Jews; those who were exiled and who were able to escape the Roman control.
Christians are Persecuted

• Christians posed a problem to Roman rulers- refused to worship Roman gods
• Christians often used as scapegoats for political and economic problems
• Were exiled, imprisoned, or executed for not worshiping the Roman gods; others killed in circus arenas for entertainment
• Some Christians posed as martyrs

Christians Become Powerful

• Christianity became powerful force by late third century A.D.
• Constantine- first Roman emperor to accept Christianity; he prayed for divine help in battle and then saw an image of a cross- a symbol of Christianity
• In the next year, he ended the persecution of the Christians
• Bishops- priests who supervised several local churches
• Peter- apostle who traveled to Rome and became the first bishop
• Later bishops claimed that Peter was the first pope, or the father of the Christian Church

Basic Facts

Who founded Islam?	Muhammad the prophet was the founder of Islam
What is the holy book of Islam?	The Qur'an
What are the basic beliefs of Islam?	The Five Pillars of Islam Belief in one god called Allah (monotheistic)
What are some important terms associated with Islam?	Mecca, Medina, Hegira, Ramadan hajj, Allah, Muslim, mosque, Qur'an, Shi'a, Sunni

Muhammad The Prophet

• After Allah spoke to Muhammad, Muhammad began to teach that Allah was the one and only god
• When people that opposed his teachings attacked some of his followers, he moved from Mecca to Medina
• This "Hijrah" attracted many followers to Muhammad
• About 8 years later he returned to Mecca and defeated the government
• Most Meccans converted to Islam

The Five Pillars of Islam

Faith	Muslims must testify that Allah is the only god and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah
Prayer	Five times a day Muslims face toward Mecca to pray They may assemble at a Mosque or wherever they may be
Alms	Muslims must support the less fortunate and give money to the poor
Fasting	Muslims must fast between dawn and sunset during the holy month of Ramadan
Pilgrimage	All Muslims that are physically and financially able to perform the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) must do so at least once in his or her lifetime

Islam Spreads

• Arab fighters spread Islam through war
• Treated Christians and Jews as "people of the book" because they were monotheistic
• Non-believers were taxed
• Many people chose to convert
• Also spread through trade and cultural diffusion
• Ibn Battuta - spread Islam, allowed women to vote, and created public schools

Art and Sciences Flourish (GOLDEN AGE!!!)

• Many people started to do calligraphy or the art of beautiful handwriting because images of living beings were discouraged
• Literature included The Thousand and One Nights, a collection of fairy tales, parables and legends
• Advances in medicine were made such as a book on how to treat Smallpox and Measles
• Muslim scientists solved problems by conducting experiments instead of using logical reasoning
• Algebra was created in mathematics
• Studies of optics were later used to develop lenses for telescopes and microscopes
• Lunar calendar to keep track of the holy month of Ramadan

Important Terms Defined

• Mecca - Muhammad's home that is now the Islamic holy land
• Medina - When Muhammad fled Mecca, he went to Medina and gained followers
• Hegira - Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina because the people in Mecca wanted him dead
• Ramadan - The holy month in which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset
• Hajj - The pilgramage to Mecca that Muslims must make at least once in their lifetime
• Allah - God
• Muslim - A person that practices Islam
• Mosque - The place of worship for Muslims
• Qur'an - The islamic holy book
• Shi'a - A sect of Islam that directly follows the teachings of Muhammad and takes the Qur'an literally (Islamic fundamentalism, minority)
• Sunni - A sect of Islam that is more modern

What were the Crusades?	Crusade- "holy war" Pope Urban II wanted to gain control of the Holy Land (Jerusalem)
Goals of the Crusades	The European Christians wanted to regain the holy land of Jerusalem from the Muslims The Muslims also threatened Constantinople and the Europeans wanted to stop Muslim attacks
What were the effects of the Crusades?	Trade was expanded which benefited both the Christians and Muslims The fall of Constantinople weakened the Byzantine empire A legacy of hatred between Christians and Muslims was left behind that still exists today
Who was Saladin?	The most famous Muslim leader of that time period He captured Jerusalem after the First and Second Crusades He signed a truce with Richard the Lion-Hearted after many battles of the Third Crusade Jerusalem remained under Muslim control but Saladin promised that unarmed Christian pilgrims could freely visit the city's holy places

The Crusades

Osman - the founder of the Ottoman Empire

• Osman named his followers Ottomans
• Osman built a small Muslim state in Anatolia between 1300 and 1326
• Osman’s successors expanded by buying land, forming alliances with other emirs, and conquering others

Mehmed the conqueror

• Mehmed the conqueror launched an attack on Constantinople in 1453
• He conquered Constantinople and opened it to new citizens of many religions and backgrounds who helped rebuild the city
• Constantinople became known as Istanbul

Suleyman the magnificent

• Ottomans controlled trade routes in Africa and dominated the whole eastern Mediterranean
• Waged war with central Europeans north Africans and central Asians
• Most powerful monarch on earth
• Created a law code
• Simplified and limited taxes
• Systematized and reduced government bureaucracy
• These changes improved the lives of most citizens
• Devshrime system – under this system, the sultan’s army drafted boys from the peoples of conquered Christian territories. The army educated them, converted them to Islam, and trained them as soldiers
• Hired caliphs (religious governors) and Viziers (advisors)
• An elite force on soldiers known as janissaries was trained to be loyal to the sultan only. They were the heart of the ottoman war machine
• In accordance with Islamic law, the ottomans granted freedom of worship to other religious communities
• These communities were called "millets" or nations
• Each millet was allowed to follow its own religious laws and practices
• The head of the millets reported to the sultan and his staff
• This kept conflict from arising among the various religious groups in the ottoman empire
• Art and literature also flourished under Sulyman’s rule ((GOLDEN AGE!!!))

The slow decline of the empire

• Despite sulyman’s achievements, the Ottoman Empire was losing ground
• Suleyman set a pattern for weak sultans (kings) by isolating his sons from education and the outside world and his sons doing the same thing.
• Ottoman Empire became known as the "sick man of Europe"